Newark Hockey Club await outcome while England Hockey explore next steps

Chairman of Newark Hockey Club Arran Coggan is hopeful of a ‘relatively normal season’ as England Hockey plans to move beyond step two on its return to play roadmap.

The sport’s governing body has recommend to clubs to plan for the season starting at the normal time while it explore the next steps of a safe return.

It has outlined three key requirements — compliance, capability, and confidence — that as a sport it will demonstrate to the government.

Coggan said players at Newark returned to coaching sessions at the start of July.

“We were really pleased to get going to start with,” he said.

“We have had a couple of groups on the pitch with five players and one coach.

“It hasn’t been the hockey we all know and love, but the players are starting to come back and it is just about getting back into it.”

A normal summer would see weekly small-sided games at Newark’s Magnus pitches, but some players are yet to return.

“A lot of people are waiting for that next bit of guidance from England Hockey, and we are hoping for a return to league hockey in September or maybe October, and if we get to that point then we could still have a relatively normal season,” said Coggan. “We had good success last year with the men’s 1s and men’s 3s and we want to build on that.”

For more, visit the club’s website.